Our New Website is NOW Live - Please visit http://www.wibspain.com

Our new website is now live and is now the place for all our latest news and events. Please visit and bookmark http://www.wibspain.com/ today. This blog will now cease to be active.

Charity fundraiser for ANBAD Dog charity 17/09/10

ANBAD is the Asociacion national por el bienestar de los animales domesticos, a registered animal charity trying to save as many animals as possible from Los Barrios, where the stray dogs are kept and then put down after 21 days. They have an area with a capacity for 20 dogs which they fund entirely from donations and they try to re home as many dogs as possible in Spain and overseas.

On Friday September 17th there is a fundraising party for ANBAD at Bounty Beach 18-22hrs. This will be a very relaxed, family friendly event with some food and beer at this lovely chiringuito. Everybody's welcome!

More info about the charity on: http://anbad.wordpress.com/
RSVP on the Facebook page

Marbella Film Festival 24 Hour Film challenge 2010

Marbella Film festival is proud to announce the launch of its annual 24 hour film challenge, as part of the 2010 festival fringe.

The event which is organised by Marbella International Film Festival, in association with New World Trust and with the support of “The Marbella Film Commission”, offers great opportunity for the film makers to add to their credits and demonstrate their talent to the world audiences.

In the past years The Marbella 24 hour film challenge, has attracted many talented film makers, who created some outstanding work, scripted, shot, edited, and submitted for screening in only 24 hours.

This year the Festival is aiming to increase the participation to this exciting event, by offering subsidised package for accommodation and festival accreditations to the festival, attracting film makers from all over the world, to make movies, and show off their talent.

Here is the deal;
The Film maker with, the cast and the crew, ( or just alone, with a camera and laptop!) is challenged to make a 3 to 4 minute short film on given a subject matter, the task is to write a script, direct the actors, shoot the film, edit, sound and music, and deliver the film in 24 hours.

All films will be screened and judged, as part of Marbella International Film Festival, and the best film would receive the prestigious Marbella 24 hour film challenge 2010 Award.
The runner ups will receive the certificate of recognition and all participants will receive the certificate of participation.

Over the years many participants of the Marbella 24 hour film challenge, have discovered this event to be most helpful platform to promote their future work, The challenge being a fast and effective way of adding to their credits, creating a show reel for their actors, crew and the production team.

The participants have succeeded in achieving international recognition on the back of association with this prestigious film festival and not to mention the opportunity of networking with some the most talent international film makers in the most glamorous resort of Puerto Banus in Marbella, enjoying a long weekend of films, fun, parties and much more.

Please register for this event as soon as possible. Registration forms and further information available from; info@marbellafilmfestival.com

WorkITspain 'Discovering Social Media' Introductory Seminar in Sotogrande

workITspain offer a 90 minute introductory seminar in the art of Social Media including Facebook, Blogging, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube & others. During the seminar workITspain will ...

• demystifies Social Media & show you how to set up Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogging etc
• shows you how to use social networks to engage with clients & members, build your brand & increase sales & membership & enhance relationships with customers or members
• offer step by step guides, technical support & tools to help you make the best choice for your business or organisation

workITspain have a programme of courses focused on specific areas such as Blogging, Twitter and Facebook. Speaker Brenda Cuby is an Internet entrepreneur and a specialist in Social Media. Visit http://www.workitspain.com/  to view her video message

The event: “Discovering Social Media - the introductory seminars”
When: Tuesday Sept 21st at 11am OR 6pm
Where: Terra Sana, Marysol, Sotogrande
Cost: €30 inc refreshments

Please contact Wendy Moody to reserve your place on email:wendy@workitspain.com or Phone: 667 573 584 or visit their website http://www.workitspain/ or join them on Facebook www.facebook.com/workITspain

Charity Production by The International Theatre Studio

For over 20 years The International Theatre Studio has performed in the open air a summer production in aid of a charity. This year they are going to Benahavis to the new Parque Torre Leonera, with the support of The Residents Department of the Ayuntamiento de Benahavis. This is a new and beautiful park with a stage and auditorium, very attractive gardens with a lake and waterfall.

With the proceeds going to CUDECA to help with their hospice, the production is called “FUN in the PARK”, an evening of entertainment. It takes place on Sunday 19th September at 6.30 pm. The first half will be a mixture of music and comedy and then there will be the traditional long interval as the audience is asked to bring with them a picnic to enjoy sitting in the gardens. Then the second half is a comedy play called “Day Trippers” directed by Kate Jackson.

A bar is available before the start, during the interval and after the play. Tickets are €12 and can be obtained from Bookworld Espana (San Pedro and Guadalmina), Costa Cards in Benavista and Longmans Bookshop Estepona or at the door.

Just a warning! The seats are rather hard so you are recommended to bring a cushion

Please come and not only have an enjoyable evening but also contribute to the needs of Cudeca. Further information from 952 81 21 51 or 686 03 13 60

Win a short break in Dubai with deVere

WIB Member Janet Ososki wants to invite you to enter their great prize draw. Over to you Janet:

Everybody needs a break and in true deVere form we are giving you the opportunity to do it in style! If you refer 5 to 10 people who could benefit from our services between 26th July and 30th September, you will be entered into an exclusive prize draw for a luxury break to Dubai or Rome.

The draw will take place on 1st October 2010. 1st Prize is flights and a 4 night stay for two at the Atlantis in Dubai. 2nd Prize is flights and a 2 night stay for two at the Inn at the Spanish Steps, a luxury boutique hotel in Rome.

So what are you waiting for? All you have to do is refer a minimum of 5 people to us to enter the draw. Submit 10 referrals and you will get 2 entries into our draw, it´s as easy as that.

If you are interested, please call or email me and I will arrange for you to have the Entry Form together with the Terms and Conditions.

Janet Ososki
Co-ordinator
deVere Group, Marbella
T +34 952 903 205
E janet.ososki@devere-group.com

Tres Divos concert 10/09/10

You are invited to attend the final concert this year - in the beautiful gardens of
El Campanario.

Appearing are the
TRES DIVOS
A trio of blended vocals – entwined to create beautiful harmonies in the genre of crossover Pop/ Opera.

Email info@elcampanariogolf.com for more information or to reserve your tickets.

New WIBS Website in Progress

We're in the process of developing and building a much improved WIBS website which we're hoping to be live by Friday 3 September. This is also the date of our next WIBS lunch which will be at El Campanario Country Club. If you would like to reserve a place for lunch please email Caroline at enquiries@wibspain.com

September Networking Lunch at El Campanario Golf & Country House Friday 3 September

Our next networking lunch will be at El Campanario Golf & Country House on Friday 3 September. Arrivals at 12:30pm. To reserve your place please contact Caroline at enquiries@wibspain.com

Address:
Visit the website for location details
Urb El Campanario,
El Campanario Golf & Country House,
Crt de Cadiz N-340, Km 168,
Estepona 29688

Top Tips for Successful Workshops

Benita Cegarra from BJC Europe Limited has written an interesting blog post about running a successful workshop that meets its true objectives.

There are ten helpful tips including:

Define the objectives, deliverables and scope up front

Don't try to do too much in one day

Work out who you need to contribute what

Contact the most important people to your agenda first and get the date in their diary early

Arrive early to check the room and arrangements.

Take all the output away and document it

Click here to read the full post

WIB Member Profile - Janet Ososki

Name: Janet Ososki

Company: deVere Group is the world's largest independent financial consultancy group. International investors and expatriates employ us to find financial services products that suit their medium to long term requirements for insurance, investments, savings and pensions. With in excess of US $7 billion of funds under administration and management, deVere has more than fifty thousand clients in over a hundred countries.

What makes your business special: the “special” part of our business is the levels of service we offer to our clients, we believe in helping our clients on a regular basis and giving a transparent and completely unbiased approach when it comes to recommending solutions. As a company we hold strategic alliances with some of the world’s biggest names, such as Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Royal Skandia to name just a few.

Top business tip: Always have an approachable manner, treat people how you would like them to treat you and remember there is always another point of view.

Why I like living in Spain: I love waking up to sunshine and the relaxed way of life. Being able to get out and about, meeting people, playing some golf – what could be better?

Contact details:
Janet Ososki
Co-ordinator
deVere Group, Marbella
Urb. Andasol, Ctra N-340 KM189, 29604 Marbella (Málaga)
T +34 952 903 205
E janet.ososki@devere-group.com
W www.devere-group.com

2nd SUMMER EVENT CONCERT 21/08/10

WIB Committee Member Susan Hunter wants to let you all know about this great concert taking place in August at El Castillo de Duquesa. Here's her message:

This is something you have to come along to. The first concert held in July was a WOW (read the reviews in the Sur, Olive Press and Essentials Magazine). The next concert will have a few extras as well, so not to be missed. My sister Julie-Anne got amazing standing ovations as people just couldn’t believe her voice ... So don’t miss the opportunity.

Please let me know how many tickets you want and do pass this on to your friends/family. There is a maximum number of chairs that can be accommodated in the castle so let me know this week so we can secure a block booking.

Email me asap Susan@susan-hunter.com for tickets. Please see below for the full event details:

Date - SATURDAY 21ST AUGUST

Location - EL CASTILLO DE DUQUESA

Performers - The concert will star popular tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, with the new and specially formed 16-piece Marbella Concert Orchestra, conducted by renowned Musical Director Ian Green, with a selection of songs from Musical Theatre, Opera and Cross-Over, sung in English, Italian and Spanish.
Special guest artists also bringing an eclectic and contemporary repertoire to the event include:
Yazz, International Recording Artist;
Julie-Anne Hunter, Mezzo Soprano ENO & Royal Festival Hall
Spain´s WOW Factor Winner and Runner-up
Christian Fa & Rebecca Tate,
The Unity Gospel Singers.

Tickets - €40 please email Susan so she can reserve yours. Tickets for the second of this year´s Summer Event Concerts are now selling very quickly and with only a small supply remaining this is almost certain to be another sell-out event!

Information: www.slmlive.com/summerevents
Reviews and Photos of 24th July Concert www.slmlive.com/summereventphotos

Review from first Summer Event Concert on 24th July
"He has been described as `one of the finest discoveries the Costa has ever seen´ Stephen Lloyd-Morgan did not disappoint when he performed at the first of two concerts in El Castillo de Duquesa" - Olive Press - 30th July 2010
"sensational evening... magical setting... what a fantastic concert" - Sur in English - 30th July 2010